Greece 2014 Adventure: Day 2
It was time to leave on our jet plane and take to the skies to
continue our journey to Kefalonia. By now I was really tired and had not slept
for nearly 24 hours. One I was sooo excited and did not want to miss
anything and two someone had to stay awake and watch the luggage!
The hours seem to last forever in fact
time was dragging to a point of that “zombie zone” time. Several of the
passengers, including hubby and I were starting to queue at the boarding gate. A
very angry and intimidating airport policeman was having none of this and told
us with very strong gestures, all to get back and go somewhere else. I thought
it best not to argue with him. Not sure if we had enough bail money for me and
my sons’ fear that we would be whisked away into an unmarked van never to be
seen again might come true, so I behaved. 30 minutes to go. So we all limped away
dragging our hand luggage, while others dragged their wheelie suitcases behind
them.
It was really funny to see all of us just circling the center counter
(several shops made up this inner circle with several others on the outer circle)
continuously. 10 minutes to go. We all start to queue again. ALAS the policemen
was still not going to let us in early - so the weary travelers continued to
circle once more. 1 minute to go!! He the man in power finally allows some of
us in, one at a time as we continue to the x-ray machine. A really hot
looking policeman was operating the x-ray machine, but he was more interested
in chatting up the female policeman than watching as the bags were going
through, in fact he barely looked at his screen. A stark contrast to Robocop
earlier!
We boarded the plane and I immediately
told my hubby that I was going to sleep!! I must have slept very deeply and woke
up rather suddenly. I looked out the window to see the runway. I looked at my
husband and saw the worry on his face and asked "are we in Athens".
No he said we have not even left Abu Dhabi airport!. What!! We had engine problems. The plane was about to
take off when the pilot halted the plane abruptly ( I think that’s when I must
of woken up) and we were now taxing to a safer place while crews were on their
way to fix the engine!
I was now wide awake and looked around the plane to see everyone
else was too. We all kept on looking at each other making contact with wide
tired and terrified eyes. Ok maybe not everyone was terrified. I was. I hate
flying. I need a drink. Actually for the couple of hours we waited there was
no reassuring messages from the Captain or the cabin crew. It was as if the plane’s
cockpit was deserted. Yipe it felt like just the 80 odd passengers were the
only souls on board. The plane was in darkness and we could hear the odd whirring sounds coming from the engine and the lights on the runway as the engine was
been fixed. We were all thirsty at this stage!
Suddenly we were moving and leaving the lights behind us and the Captain
mumbled something over the air. Ok so this must be code for “Lord have Mercy on
us all!!” We were actually going to fly in this very plane, the one which had
the engine problems. You got to be kidding me. I was about to get off this
plane. So there were crew on board and they came down the aisles smiling and
checking that we all were buckled in. They acted as though nothing had happened.
Well girls I wanted whatever it was that you were on because I certainly did
not have the confidence that you all had that we were going to make it to
Athens!
We were lucky to have a very empty plane (maybe other travelers
knew something we did not about these planes ….) and this afforded us all the
opportunity to stretch out across multiple seats and sleep. At least if we were
sleeping we would not know we had just plummeted to our death. Thankfully the
flight was only around 5 hours to Athens. I awoke as the sun started to flood
into the plane and got our first stunning views of Greece and some of the
islands.
We landed at Athens and finally planted our weary feet firmly on
the ground. It felt really good to be alive!
We were herded in and I really did
not mind as the young policeman was well… let’s just say he looked like a Greek
God and my knees started to sway. I told my husband that I was going to ask him
if he thought I could wrap him up and send him back to South Africa for my
daughter. Sigh they would have beautiful
children….My poor husband actually held onto me and really thought I was going
to go up to him and speak to him……
We waited for our luggage and waited…..it was nowhere to be found.
Really!!! My hubby then guarded the luggage belt and waited. He also walked up and down to the other belts to see if he could retrieve our luggage. I went off to the
lost luggage information kiosk to spend the next hour watching a very tiny and
stressed Greek girl (sheweee these Greeks are a feisty and a loud bunch) yelling
and screaming trying to retrieve many other travelers' lost luggage. People were equally passionate
and vocal about their lost luggage and with all the different languages coupled
with a blend of that awesome Mediterranean passion I was kept thoroughly entertained
while we discovered our luggage was put onto the wrong plane. But don't fear they had
traced it and were currently retrieving it.
We had 10 hours to kill before our flight to Kefalonia. Athens
airport is actually a great airport.
I was so amazed at all the internet areas
along the aisles. We could sit down and link into the free wi-fi, charge your
phone and catch up with the world and my kids back home.
We found a really
great MacDonald’s restaurant with a lounge with fantastic cappuccinos, this
became our home and passengers were permitted to sprawl out over the soft
sofas and sleep. We played cards (Rummy) drank coffee and chatted about our adventure!
While we explored the airport we came across a small museum on the
2nd floor. It was fantastic and as tired as we were we spent a good
2 hours taking in some of the Greek history. The best was yet to come!!
To my hubby’s delight he
found a food stall with my namesake.
We
made our way to our boarding gate and bore witness to a middle aged Greek
couple have a full on screaming match. I looked at my husband and told him that
he “have it lucky” as the couple came past us with the wife screaming
passionately at the husband while fellow passengers looked on in utter
amazement. Wonder how they make up!!
Finally we were boarding with the wind howling across the tarmac. The
beautiful air hostess greeted us and we settled in for our short 1 hour flight
to the Greek Ionic Island of Kefalonia. I could not wait!! Well that was until
I looked out my window and saw a propeller and then noticed that the plane was
really small. My hubby was in his element he loves the sound of a “prop” engine
plane. Me not sooo much.
Soon we got treated to
spectacular views over the ocean and
started to spot hundreds of little Islands.
We started to make our descent into
Kefalonia and noticed that the sea was becoming clearer and closer (Eish) as we
landed. The airport is tiny but well run and our taxi was waiting to wish us off
to our Island honeymoon and 10 days of blissful adventure.
we are here!!
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